Hello, all. Just purchased a new 870 for HD. Want to add a mag extension--gunsmith will install it for $15. Need to know what brand to pick (looked @ Scattergun Tech, Tacstar). Currently holds 4+1--looking for a total of 8 rounds. Also, do I need to change out foreends to accomodate a side saddle? Think I read something @ needing a LE forend for the 6 round,but not the 4. Thanks.
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New 870 Express Synthetic Questions
- Thread starter jmg
- Start date
Dfariswheel
New member
As far as quality of extensions go, I'd put Remington factory, Scattergun Tech, and Choate tied in first.
I put Tac-Star in second place.
Choate makes one of the very best. Their's has been around almost as long as the Remington factory unit, and it's well-proven.
An advantage to the Choate unit is, it comes as a complete kit. You get the extension, the longer spring, a heavy-duty magazine follower, a sling swivel, AND the critical barrel clamp.
USE THE CLAMP.
It doesn't matter HOW strong the extension is, it's still screwed to the thin magazine tube on the gun, and it's VERY possible to knock the extension loose, OR OFF entirely.
Give the unsupported extension a fairly minor bump, and it can get either knocked out of line, jamming the magazine, or worse, knocked off the gun completely.
The clamp stabilizes and supports the extension.
The Tac-Star and Scattergun units don't come with a clamp.
Choate's come in capacities from 7 total for an 18" barrel, to a 10 shot total for a 26" barrel, AND come in blue or parkerized finish.
A 8 shot unit will fit a 20" barrel, NOT the 18" barrel of the Express HD.
Be sure to match the extension to the barrel you have.
The absolute BEST price I've ever found on Choate products is:
Eldon King. Email-- gunrunner@cox-internet.com
He sells Choate units for prices LESS than the "discount" prices charged by anybody else I've found.
The sporting fore end on the Express is longer, so longer side saddles won't work. You can either, shorten the stock fore end, replace it with a Police-length fore end, or use shorter side saddles.
One "watch-out" with side saddles. DON'T over tighten the unit on the receiver. This will compress the receiver and cause jams.
Make SURE that when the slide is ALL THE WAY BACK, there is still at least a tiny gap between the saddle and the fore end.
If the fore end is bumping the saddle, this can cause jams, and is hard on the gun.
I put Tac-Star in second place.
Choate makes one of the very best. Their's has been around almost as long as the Remington factory unit, and it's well-proven.
An advantage to the Choate unit is, it comes as a complete kit. You get the extension, the longer spring, a heavy-duty magazine follower, a sling swivel, AND the critical barrel clamp.
USE THE CLAMP.
It doesn't matter HOW strong the extension is, it's still screwed to the thin magazine tube on the gun, and it's VERY possible to knock the extension loose, OR OFF entirely.
Give the unsupported extension a fairly minor bump, and it can get either knocked out of line, jamming the magazine, or worse, knocked off the gun completely.
The clamp stabilizes and supports the extension.
The Tac-Star and Scattergun units don't come with a clamp.
Choate's come in capacities from 7 total for an 18" barrel, to a 10 shot total for a 26" barrel, AND come in blue or parkerized finish.
A 8 shot unit will fit a 20" barrel, NOT the 18" barrel of the Express HD.
Be sure to match the extension to the barrel you have.
The absolute BEST price I've ever found on Choate products is:
Eldon King. Email-- gunrunner@cox-internet.com
He sells Choate units for prices LESS than the "discount" prices charged by anybody else I've found.
The sporting fore end on the Express is longer, so longer side saddles won't work. You can either, shorten the stock fore end, replace it with a Police-length fore end, or use shorter side saddles.
One "watch-out" with side saddles. DON'T over tighten the unit on the receiver. This will compress the receiver and cause jams.
Make SURE that when the slide is ALL THE WAY BACK, there is still at least a tiny gap between the saddle and the fore end.
If the fore end is bumping the saddle, this can cause jams, and is hard on the gun.
I'm kind of surprised that your HD didn't come with a factory mag extension. I guess they may have dropped that feature, maybe.
Dfaris touched on some really good points, though. I would just add that a gunsmith really isn't necessary just to add a mag extension; that's 15 extra dollars that you could probably better use elsewhere, like maybe some extra ammo. The one thing you might want to check out if you haven't already is look to see if there are any "dimples" at the end of your factory mag tube. These are to prevent aftermarket mods like tube extensions from being used. If so, no big worries, you'll just have to remove them either by grinding them down from the inside via a Dremel, or just simple drill through them with an appropriately sized bit and then touch up the finish around the holes. If done right it won't even be noticeable and won't interfere with operation at all.
Dfaris touched on some really good points, though. I would just add that a gunsmith really isn't necessary just to add a mag extension; that's 15 extra dollars that you could probably better use elsewhere, like maybe some extra ammo. The one thing you might want to check out if you haven't already is look to see if there are any "dimples" at the end of your factory mag tube. These are to prevent aftermarket mods like tube extensions from being used. If so, no big worries, you'll just have to remove them either by grinding them down from the inside via a Dremel, or just simple drill through them with an appropriately sized bit and then touch up the finish around the holes. If done right it won't even be noticeable and won't interfere with operation at all.
Hey, guys. Thanks for the speedy replies.
Manchu--the gun is a standard 870 synthetic--NOT the HD model. Just got it from Wally World--actually, a funny story. Needed something quick--knew the 870 was $224.87 --wood furniture, 28" barrel, 3.5" chamber, parkerized. I tell the woman "I want that one"--the displayed model. They bring one out of the back--this one's got synthetic furniture, a 26" tube, and the box says $298.87. They charged me the original 224.
Dfarriswheel--thanks. I'll email the contact you sent.
Anyone know where the best price on a shorter barrel is?
Manchu--the gun is a standard 870 synthetic--NOT the HD model. Just got it from Wally World--actually, a funny story. Needed something quick--knew the 870 was $224.87 --wood furniture, 28" barrel, 3.5" chamber, parkerized. I tell the woman "I want that one"--the displayed model. They bring one out of the back--this one's got synthetic furniture, a 26" tube, and the box says $298.87. They charged me the original 224.
Dfarriswheel--thanks. I'll email the contact you sent.
Anyone know where the best price on a shorter barrel is?